Geoff Du Toit became addicted to gambling when the pokies came to Adelaide in 1994.
It took him more than 20 years to understand that he needed help — but, by then, it had impacted his family and his mental health.
“I lost my fingerprint of life, I lost everything I enjoyed,” Mr Du Toit said.
“Relationship breakdown, depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts are all part of that — people become disappointed in themselves, they become ashamed.”
He said going into debt could also worsen the situation.
“Everybody suffers,” he said.
Mr Du Toit said there were two major triggers for him to choose to gamble: having cash in his…
